Anna Karenina (Oprah #5) (Oprah's Classics Book Club Selections)

being a classic, i felt that i had to have a read of this. very long! it took me 2 renewals to finally finish this book. if you are in to politics then this is for you. i was distracted by the amount of politics, unknown russians, and lahdidah classing. i did however enjoy the contrast between anna and levin - one has everything and loses it all, the other starts with little and gains a great...more

being a classic, i felt that i had to have a read of this. very long! it took me 2 renewals to finally finish this book. if you are in to politics then this is for you. i was distracted by the amount of politics, unknown russians, and lahdidah classing. i did however enjoy the contrast between anna and levin - one has everything and loses it all, the other starts with little and gains a great deal (including what is life?). im glad i did persevere til the end...   hide

One of my top 5 books ever. Tolstoy writes about his political and social policy views, although in a reserved way that is reflected in his main character's thoughts and actions. Love affairs is the main theme, although I didn't feel much pity for Anna, instead maybe slight irritation, but I fell in love with Kostya and Kitty. Their relationship is cute and warming against the cold...more

One of my top 5 books ever. Tolstoy writes about his political and social policy views, although in a reserved way that is reflected in his main character's thoughts and actions. Love affairs is the main theme, although I didn't feel much pity for Anna, instead maybe slight irritation, but I fell in love with Kostya and Kitty. Their relationship is cute and warming against the cold Russian backdrop. The industrial revolution and class elements are another theme of this book, with the farmers and labourers being stereotypes rather than real characters, and they seem to be included just to voice an opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it significantly different to the other Russian greats in its clarity and pointedness. I'd recommend it as a worthwhile read for anyone.   hide

Solomon had it right--there is nothing new under the sun. People are the same. They may live in a different locale during another time, speak a different language. The framework and culture within which they live may present unique obstacles or provide alternative situations, but as you read this book, no matter who you are or where you are from, you will recognize characters and identify...more

Solomon had it right--there is nothing new under the sun. People are the same. They may live in a different locale during another time, speak a different language. The framework and culture within which they live may present unique obstacles or provide alternative situations, but as you read this book, no matter who you are or where you are from, you will recognize characters and identify familiar personalities. There is a lot of philosophy I don't pretend to have understood, but also a lot of spiritual exploration I knew by heart. It read like a soap opera, and I looked forward to each episode.   hide

I have read many times that Anna Karenina is one of the best novels ever written ... like EVER. Now I can finally say from experience that, though I don't claim to be the most well-read human alive, I have yet to come across a book that trumps this Tolstoy masterpiece. I had never really delved into the world of Russian literature before; but I've always wanted to read War and Peace...more

I have read many times that Anna Karenina is one of the best novels ever written ... like EVER. Now I can finally say from experience that, though I don't claim to be the most well-read human alive, I have yet to come across a book that trumps this Tolstoy masterpiece. I had never really delved into the world of Russian literature before; but I've always wanted to read War and Peace before I die. I was a little afraid to take the plunge, so I picked up Anna Karenina thinking it would be like Tolstoy with training wheels. At only 822 pages, it's shorter and less intimidating than War and Peace. Well, turns out, I thought it was so fantastic that I pre-ordered the paperback edition of the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of War and Peace. Now I can't wait until it arrives! I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.   hide

Hard call between this and "War and Peace" for the title of best novel ever. This novel is, without any question whatsoever, one of the best ever written. Like its predecessor ("War and Peace") it contains such a genuine account of human life that reading it cannot be less than a life changing experience, particularly if you haven't read Tolstoy before. It is a masterpiece, plain and simple,...more

Hard call between this and "War and Peace" for the title of best novel ever. This novel is, without any question whatsoever, one of the best ever written. Like its predecessor ("War and Peace") it contains such a genuine account of human life that reading it cannot be less than a life changing experience, particularly if you haven't read Tolstoy before. It is a masterpiece, plain and simple, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. No novel in the world (with the possible exception of "War and Peace") offers greater rewards to a diligent reader. Questions, answers, and truths which took Tolstoy decades of careful thought to discover are laid bare here for all to consume, to take in hand and be freed thereby. As for critiquing it on a literary level, to do so would be presumptuous, so I'll refrain. As for all those out there who have said "Ugh! It's too long! I got bored!" That boredom does not reflect a weakness of the novel, (which, far from being boring, is full of the vivid, driving pulse of life,) but a weakness of their hearts and their own impatient nature. Read this book, and "War and Peace", I beg you all, and I swear you will not regret it.   hide

Really slow to read. This was my second try, the first time I just couldn't read it through.. Story had its moments: some parts I really enjoyed and waited, but some were kind of boring. Still, a nice description of Russia in that time: I really enjoyed the picture it gave about that time. Though it was really easy to get confused with all the names.. Love story of Vronski and Anna was...more

Really slow to read. This was my second try, the first time I just couldn't read it through.. Story had its moments: some parts I really enjoyed and waited, but some were kind of boring. Still, a nice description of Russia in that time: I really enjoyed the picture it gave about that time. Though it was really easy to get confused with all the names.. Love story of Vronski and Anna was really tragic and the description of jealousy was really heart breaking. Also the suicide scene, so sad.. But the sadness wasn't overwhelming because there were at least one couple that had everything ok.   hide

I read this novel a couple of years ago with our book club. Just couldn't put it down. I had started it early since it's a long book but finished it before our next book. It's a wonderful story. I didn't like Anna or her lover much (especially him) but liked most of the other characters well, especially Kitty and Levin. The writing is so wonderful, you think those people are real. I also watched...more

I read this novel a couple of years ago with our book club. Just couldn't put it down. I had started it early since it's a long book but finished it before our next book. It's a wonderful story. I didn't like Anna or her lover much (especially him) but liked most of the other characters well, especially Kitty and Levin. The writing is so wonderful, you think those people are real. I also watched one of the mini series that was filmed a couple of years ago and had the same impression. Everyone in our book club, with one exception, I believe, loved it, as well. I liked it so much, I will definitely want to read a lot more of Tolstoi.   hide

I was scared to read this book. this guy wrote WAR AND PEACE.... It was not that bad. I did get bored by some of the political theme but some of it seemed very relevent to todays problems. Incentives and motivations why people work. I loved Levin he was a bit prickly and standoffish at times but what an amazing portrayal! Anna was a charming dolt. What sticks with me the most was the joy that...more

I was scared to read this book. this guy wrote WAR AND PEACE.... It was not that bad. I did get bored by some of the political theme but some of it seemed very relevent to todays problems. Incentives and motivations why people work. I loved Levin he was a bit prickly and standoffish at times but what an amazing portrayal! Anna was a charming dolt. What sticks with me the most was the joy that hard physical work brings. The threshing scene in particular. Very glad I read it   hide

Tolstoy is an amazing novelist and I love his use of laungage that is at once lyrical and thought provoking. Granted this is a translation but I really liked the flow of the novel. The characters all interested me, even the ones that I did not particularly like and I felt an attachment to each of them so that I was sorry when the book was over. The only thing I disliked were the extensive...more

Tolstoy is an amazing novelist and I love his use of laungage that is at once lyrical and thought provoking. Granted this is a translation but I really liked the flow of the novel. The characters all interested me, even the ones that I did not particularly like and I felt an attachment to each of them so that I was sorry when the book was over. The only thing I disliked were the extensive commentaries on political issues. And the end of book eight was somewhat unnecassary (I thought it would have been nice to get some closure on Karenin). But this is truly a wonderfull book and I look forward to reading it in the future.   hide